There is time to think when you camp alone, arguably too much. On my third day on the island, I was worried about a medical procedure my little one was scheduled to undergo that day. The thought of her, scared and possibly terrified or hurt, kept butting into my thoughts. My wife told me to … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 3)
Tag: Standup paddling
Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 2)
Day 2 The morning was chillier than I expected, but the air was still, which was what I had hoped for. I prepared some oatmeal, ate some dried mango, and drank two cups of tea. I put on my board shorts and rash guard, hat and glasses, clipped a knife to my belt, checked that … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz (Part 2)
Solo on Santa Cruz Island (Part One)
Day 1 I lined up with the others at the dock in Channel Islands harbor, waiting with my gear laid out for inspection. Groups of people filtered in and laid their gear on the ground in front of them. It appeared that I was the only one by myself - which suited me fine. I … Continue reading Solo on Santa Cruz Island (Part One)
Seabound Solitude
Shayla Tonge is a film student who made the coolest, most beautiful documentary about the peace and joy of standup paddling, and in particular, about my SUP experiences on the water. I have included a link here to the documentary, which she named Seabound Solitude. Enjoy! Jeremy- Seabound Solitude.mp4 (vimeo.com)
Eating on a Paddle-Camping Trip
From time to time, someone asks me what sort of food I bring on my paddle camping adventures. The question usually comes from someone who is wondering how I carry all the food and drink I need without weighing myself down too much. It’s a good question because there does seem to be an inverse … Continue reading Eating on a Paddle-Camping Trip
Injured
I used to play a lot of basketball, but oftentimes when I played, I would play for too long, and I would come home wrecked. My knees would hurt. My back would hurt. Even my stomach would hurt if I played for hours. I jammed my fingers, and sometimes had to wear a splint. I … Continue reading Injured
Let’s Get It Straight
Getting to where you want to go can be difficult. And getting there in the most direct way is also challenging. What you will notice when you standup paddle, especially as a new paddler, is that your board will not track in a perfectly straight line as you paddle. With each stroke, the nose of … Continue reading Let’s Get It Straight
The Mysterious Fin
It was another gorgeous morning. I paddled through what remained of the harbor feeling strong. The tide was rushing out, and it felt like I was paddling down a fast moving river. Underneath me, I could see kelp stalks bending under the powerful sway of the current. I was making record time out of the … Continue reading The Mysterious Fin
Dudes’ Annual Paddle Adventure 2020 (Part 3/End)
I tripped out of the tent, cursing the tent flap for the surly bastard that it was, and walked over to our makeshift kitchen table to heat up some tea. A mug in hand, now feeling more sanguine, I took a seat in my camp chair, and looked around my feet. Beneath me were the … Continue reading Dudes’ Annual Paddle Adventure 2020 (Part 3/End)
Dudes’ Annual Paddle Adventure 2020 (Part 1)
The five of us, masked per Covid-19 protocol, and laden like mules with gear, lumbered down the gangway to the boat in San Pedro, that was to take us to Two Harbors on Santa Catalina Island. We hunted for seats with good air flow and found some in the bow. Our talk during the ride … Continue reading Dudes’ Annual Paddle Adventure 2020 (Part 1)